Gate-latch



R. T. GRIMES.

GATE. LATCH. I APPLICATIGH FILED JULY 23.1920,

Patented June 28, 1921.

Z SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY '1. GRIMES, 0F FORBES, MISSOURI.

GATE-LATCH.

Application filed July 23, 1920. Serial No. 398,427.

T 0 all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, ROY T. GRIMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Forbes, in the county of Holt and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to gate latches and more particularly to a type of gate latch which automatically locks the gate in closed position by means 01 its own weight and must be manually released in order to open the gate.

My invention also aims to provide a gate latch of simple and durable construction possessing certain novel features which combine to make a latch in which the locking operation takes place in a direct and certain manner.

The invention is described in the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention applied to a gate and in locked position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing in dotted lines the position assumed by various parts when the gate has made contact with the locking mechanism. a

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device showing the latch in locked position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the co acting members or" the latch mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of my invention showing in dotted lines the positions assumed by the parts as the gate closes. I i

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the modified form of latch in locked position.

The locking element 10 of my improved latch device is pivotel on a pin 11 which passes through a plate 12 near one end thereof. The plate 12 is provided with slots 13 for receiving bolts 14 which are secured to the gate post 16. The plate 12 is Secured in adjusted position by means of the bolts 14 which clamp the plate tightly in position. The pin 11 passes through the plate 12 and element 10 and its ends are riveted over for maintaining the pin in place. To the lower end of the element 10 a weight 17 is secured by means of rivets 18 and this weight is provided at one end with a lug 19 whichis adapted to engage the under" side of the plate 12 and maintain the pivoted element in vertical position. The element 10 is preferably made of steel plate of substantially rectangular form and one upper corner thereof is bent over so as to provide the lateral extending finger 20 and the opposite upper corner is cut away so as to form a shoulder 21 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. The forward corners of the plate 12 are preferably mounted so as to provide clearance for the pivotal movements of the locking element. The plate 12 is provided on its upper edge with a recess 22 for receiving the finger 20 so that the element 10 may assume a horizontal position such as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

A section of angle iron or steel 25 is secured to the free end of the swinging gate 26 by means of bolts 27 which also engage in vertical slots 28 whereby the angle 25 may be raised or lowered in relation to the plate 12 and secured in said adjusted position by means of the bolts 27. The angle plate has a horizontal extending arm 30 provided with an end 81 which is slightly tapered or beveled so as to freely engage the rounded edge and upper surface of the plate 12. A keeper plate 3a is formed with an aperture 32 adapted to aline with the element 12 when the gate is approaching the closed position and is secured to the gate by wood screws 29. The sides 33 bounding the recess 32 areadapted to engage against the shoulder 21 and a portion of the locking ele ment below the pivot pin 11 so that in exerting a force on the gate tending to open the same, equal forces act on the pivoted element in opposite directions, so that it is practically impossible to operate the pivoted element by pushing on the gate. This feature renders the lock strictly safe for use in stock yards or farms for the purpose of retaining cattle or other live stock within certain inclosures. A hole 36 is provided in the upper end of the locking element 10 for the purpose of receiving a suitable lock such as a pad lock whereby the locking element 10 may be positively locked against movement.

Assume that the gate is in closed position as shown in Fig. 1 and a person within the fenced inclosure desires to open the gate.

It is only necessary for the person to extend an arm over the gate and lift the pivoted element with one hand. The gate 26 should preferably be closed by means of a spring, but such action is not necessary. To close .the gate after opening the same it is simply necessary to push the gate closed in case a spring for this purpose is not provided, when the pivoted element will automatically lock the gate in that position. As the gate closes the end 31 of the horizontal arm 30 contacts with the upper end of the pivoted element and lifts it to a horizontal position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in the meantime engages the upper side of the element and sliding upon it thus lifts the latch into alinement with the aperture 32 through which it passes as the gate moves farther toward closed position. As the member 33 passes the inner end of the pivoted latch, the weight 17, carries the latch from its horizontal to a vertical position thereby locking the gate closed and any outward pressure onthe gate will merely serve to hold the pivoted element more firmly in locked position.

A keeper plate 34 is formed with an aperture 32 adapted to aline with'the element 12' when the gate is approaching the closed position and said keeperrplate is in angle 25 is bent over the top edge of the keeper plate 34 as at 35 and secured there to by means of the bolts 27. The sides of the keeper plate 34: bounding the recess 33 are adapted to engage against the inner edge of the locking element both above and below the pivot pin 11 so that in exerting the force on the gate tending to open the same equal forces will act on the pivoted element in opposite directions, so that it is practically impossible to operate the pivoted element by pushing on the gate. 7

It will be noted that as the gate approaches the gate post the end 31 will engage in the recess formed by the displacement of finger-20 and by a continued inward motion of the gate the finger 31. will.

move the locking element about its pivot pin 11 until it is in horizontal alinement with the aperture 32 of the keeper plate as the gate closes. 'The operation is the same as above described for the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4: and when the gate is completely closed the locking element automatically assumes the position shown in Fig. 6. 7

It is apparent from the above description that this device provides a simple, cheaply constructed and efficient gate latch which maybestamped of suitable material or made of heavier material cast to finished shape.

Having described my invention, whatl claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gate latch, a member adapted to be mounted on the gate or gate post and project forwardly therefrom, a locking element pivoted to the free end of said member and a weight secured to one endof said element for normally maintaining said element U1 vertical position, said weight being adapted to engage the lower portion of said member for limiting the locking movement of the pivoted element.

2. In a gate latch, a member adapted to be mounted on the gate or gate post and project forwardly therefrom, a lockingelement pivoted to the free end of said member, a weight secured to one end of said element having a lug adapted to engage the lower portion of said member, to limit the movement of said element in one direction and a finger projecting laterally fro'm said element for engaging the upper portion of said member for limiting the movement of said element in the opposite direction.

3. In agate latch, a plate adapted to be adjustably mounted on the gate or gate post and project forwardly therefrom, said plate having a recessed upper edge, a locking element pivoted to'the free end of said plate, a weight secured to one endof said element having a lug, adapted to engage the lower edge of said plate to limit the movement of said element infone direction and a finger struck from the material of said element for limiting the movement of said element in the opposite direction. s v

4. In a gate latch, a plate adapted to be mounted on one of the relatively movable parts of the gate and project forwardly therefrom, a locking element pivoted to the free end of said plate, a weight secured to one end of said element for normally maintaining the same in vertical position, an angle plate and an apertured keeper plate adapted to be mounted on the other relatively movable part, said angle plate having a rearwardly projecting arm adapted to engage the unweighted end 'of said element when the parts approach a closed position and swing said elementto a horizontal position for passing through said apertured plate. V

p 5; In a gate latch, a pivoted lockingelement having a weighted end for normally; maintaining said element in vertical position, an arm adapted to move said element to horizontal position as the gate closes and release said element when the gate is closed whereby said element may return to vertical locked position under the influence of said weighted end.

6. In a gate latch, an apertured plate adapted to be carried by one of the relatively movable parts of the gate, a locking element having a Weight at one end for normally maintaining said element in locked position means for automatically moving said element in alinement with the aperture of said plate as the gate closes and releasing the same when said element has passed completely through said aperture.

7. In a gate latch, an apertured plate adapted to be carried by one of the relatively movable parts of the gate, a pivoted locking element adapted to pass through said apertured plate and automatically assume a vertical position When the gate is closed, said element having portions adapted to bear against said plate at opposite sides of the pivot whereby a force acting on said gate tending to open the same exerts equal and opposite turning movements upon said pivoted element.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

ROY T. GRIMES. Witnesses:

ETHEL KREEK, WV. F. BRAGG. 

